A new IBU rule gives overall World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lægreid a huge advantage in the Olympic season – but creates a headache for the Norwegian team leadership.

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is introducing several major rule changes for the upcoming season, where the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is the clear highlight.

One of the biggest changes is personal quota spots. Starting from the 2025/2026 season, the overall World Cup winners from the previous season will receive personal quota spots for the first two World Cup rounds of the following season.

This year, that applies to Sturla Holm Lægreid and Germany’s Franziska Preuss, who have now secured personal starts for the World Cup opener in Östersund and the following round in Hochfilzen in December.

The decision was made by the IBU board during its meeting this week in Salzburg, Austria.

“The EB approved a set of rule changes for next season, which include additional rifle safety measures, providing the World Cup Total Score winner of the previous season with a personal start right for the first two events in the following season, and the deletion of tie-breaking procedures for the Total Score at the end of the season,” the IBU stated in a press release on Friday.

Norway in a tight spot

The decision means that Norway and Germany can now field seven athletes for the first two World Cup rounds this season.

But the rule change puts Norway in a tricky situation.

According to Nordic Mag, the personal spot for the World Cup winner cannot be combined with the personal quota for the IBU Cup overall winner. This means the Norwegian team leadership must choose which personal quota to use – either the World Cup winner or the IBU Cup winner – since no nation is allowed to enter eight athletes.

Shared overall World Cup titles possible

During the board meeting in Salzburg, the IBU also decided that if two athletes have the same total points in the overall World Cup standings, they will now be declared co-winners.

“If two athletes have the same number of points after the season ends, it will be a shared title,” the IBU told NordicMag.

This year, such a situation was nearly realized, with only a few points separating France’s Lou Jeanmonnot from Germany’s Franziska Preuss ahead of the final race of the season.

Had the two ended up tied after the final in Holmenkollen on March 23, Jeanmonnot would have won the overall title this year under the current tie-break rule of most wins. But had it happened next season, they would both have received a large crystal globe.

Also Read – Biathlon World Cup Season 2024/2025: Final standings after Oslo Holmenkollen

This rule change regarding shared titles applies to the overall standings in the World Cup, IBU Cup, and Junior Cup. However, it only affects the overall title.

In the sub-cups, like the Sprint Cup, Mass Start Cup, and Pursuit Cup, the regular tie-break system still applies. This means factors such as most wins, most second places, etc., will still be used to break ties in those competitions.

More major changes

The rule changes around the overall title and personal quota spots are just two of several adjustments this season.

Earlier this spring, the IBU decided to scrap this year’s Summer Biathlon World Championships in favor of a brand-new international roller ski festival in Munich in mid-October. The new event, named Loop One, will serve as a kickoff for the World Cup season.

However, many of the top biathlon nations are unhappy with the decision.

Read More: IBU cancels 2025 Summer Biathlon World Championships

Are you interested in biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentary.

When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round. 

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER